even Bacon can find admiration,[1] displays in special degree his powers of classification. The same necessity for collecting facts is recognised in his Ethics, Politics, and Physics. "Some of Aristotle's most important researches must be entirely original. For instance, he must have traced the development of the embryo chicken with his own eyes."[2] And then there are "his two great anatomical discoveries, the central position of the heart in the vascular system, and the possession of a backbone by all red-blooded animals."[3] Nor was Aristotle ignorant of experiment, although he does not employ it frequently. Lewes gives one or two examples,[4] all taken from physiology. Aristotle does not mention experiments in any other branch of science.
It was Aristotle's belief that truth resulted from a comparison of varied popular views.[5] What was generally credited must have some firm foundation. The opinions of γώριμοι, i.e., those specially acquainted with any subject, are prima facie likely to be correct in relation to that subject.[6] He realises, however, the danger of inaccuracy in all 'opinion.'[7]
He is not always successful in avoiding such danger. It seems impossible that one man should have collected at first hand all the facts of nature recorded in his numerous writings. He must have accepted the great majority of them from popular tradition with little or no further examination. His analysis of ἔνδοξα was not sufficiently critical. And Bacon seems a little too generous when he says: "Wherein the wisdom and integrity of Aristotle is worthy to be observed; that having made so diligent and exquisite a history of living creatures, hath mingled it sparingly with any vain or feigned matter … excellently discerning that matter of manifest truth, such whereupon observation and rule was to be built, was not to be mingled or weakened with
- ↑ See Ellis and Spedding, Bacon's Works, 1857, Vol. III, p. 288.—Advancement of Learning.
- ↑ Benn, Greek Philosophers, 1882, Vol. I, p. 327.
- ↑ Ibid., Vol. I, p. 328. For Aristotle, see De Part. An., II, ix, 664 b, 11.
- ↑ Lewes, Aristotle, 1864, pp. 112–113.
- ↑ See Topics, passim, and consider his practice in ethics.
- ↑ See Topics, I, 1.
- ↑ See Kitchin, Novum Organum: edited with English notes, 1855, p. 64. note 58 for quotation from Metaph. A. το ἔλαττον, ch. 3.
